Clutch Cable Routing

Hello, I have a 1983 KZ550 M-! Shaft and I am having trouble with the clutch cable. I bought his with boxes of parts so I'm not sure where all of this goes. I had it routed to the left side then under the carbs to the release lever but it was way too tight to pull one handed. I took the cable off and cleaned and lubed it. I put it back on but not much better. I have tried routing under the frame to the left side then under the carbs to the lever. Not much better. I took the clutch out and checked everything and it all seems fine, plates not sticking, pull rod not hanging up. No luck. It makes a squeegee feeling when i pull it. Any pictures of this routed would be greatly appreciated, or even suggestions. Thanks

As long as clutch actuator rod protruding from clutch cover and it's internal components are correctly assembled correctly it's probably just a "sticky/dirty/rusty" inner cable. These type of clutch actuators are easy pullers at lever. If you still have the original cable and handlebars routing should be self-evident. You say you routed to the Left of headstock, left sitting on bike i assume? Does that position cause the cable to bind when swinging handlebar fully Left to fully Right? Any abnormal quick bends when routed to the Left? Try routing it to the Right of headstock because clutch perch is on the Left routing to the Right will allow the cable more of a natural bend.  

Thanks, the thing is on the shafy, the clutch is on the right so the actuator rod is as well. It seems to want to pull from the left side (as sitting on the bike) so the routing should probably go under the carbs as far as i can tell. It was hooked up and run in that direction but I got the bike in a semi disassembled state with things connected incorrectly. The coil wires went to the wrong pistons and so on so I'm not certain of the routing or even if the clutch cable is the correct length.

it might be that a new cable is needed. from memory. if the clutch release shaft is installed correctly but adjusting the clutch cable doesn't work, kawasaki says to replace the clutch cable. I would try test-routing the cable in any old way to see if the clutch release will actuate the push rod. if that works, then route the cable in a manner that works. most pics I've seen have it routed under the carburetors, but a kawasaki brochure has it routed over the RH side then in front of the engine. problem w that is keeping the cable away from the hot exhaust pipes.
ps: checking various diagrams at partzilla. I didn't see any cable guides or clamps that would hint where the cable should be routed.
1983 kz550-M1 Ltd shaft clutch >> www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motor...haft-kz550-m1/clutch

I have spent more time looking at pics and videos of the 83 550 shaft bikes in an attempt to find the answer you are seeking. Will say I have seen some that are most certainly  not the stock routing. Those that make most sense to me appear to route the cable along the upper frame over top of the engine and down between carb 1 and 2 and then to the release lever,